Television method and apparatus



Jan. 12, 1932. s. D. HABERLE 1,840,446

TELEVISION METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l dINVENTOR 247w vw ATTORNEY J Jan. 12, 1932. S. D. HABERLE 1,840,446

TELEVISION METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Fi.2.. UHNE d A RflHQL/J INVENTOR ATTORNEY/5" i w E a 5. H u s jazz, 13.2,19

TELEVISION METHOD AND APPARATUS Patented Jan. 12, 1932 PATENT OFFICESUMNER DUDLEY HAIBERLE, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR- TO JENKINSTELEVISION CORPORATION, 01" JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION 01'DELAWARE TELEVISION Is'iETHOD AND APPARATUS Application filed November5, 1929. Serial No. 404,902.

tions being arran ed in a single turn-spiral.

In order to increase the size of the image or picture that may bereproduced in this type of system it has been proposed to employ a dischaving the perforations or scanning elements in a spiral having a numberof convolutions and to provide a corresponding shutter for successivelyrendering the turns effective. This system is, however, still open tothe objection that the image is distorted radially because of thedifferent radial distances of the successive scanning elements.Furthermore, for practical reasons, the size of the picture ismaterially limited by the radius of the scanning disc.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a novelscanning system whereby the picture may be produced with uniformity andemploying a perforated drum and a co-operating disc shutter.

0 Another object of the invention is to provide a television reproducingdevice capable of reproducing images or visual representations that canbe viewed simultaneously by a number of observers, which device issimple. compac and efficient in operation.

A feature of the invention relates to a television reproducer comprisinga scanning drum having a series of perforations or scanning elementsarranged in a plural-turn helix together with a disc-like shutter havinga plurality of specially designed slots.

Another feat ire relates to the manner of mounting the disc shuttereccentrically with relation to the drum scanner without curtailing thepicture field of the drum scanner.

A further feature relates to a televisor comprising a drum-disc scannertogether with an enclosing cabinet therefor which cabinet is providedwith a novel type of viewing opening whereby the reproduced image may beviewed simultaneously by a group of observers.

A further feature relates to the manner of adjustably mounting atelevision reproducing lamp on the interior of a drum scanner.

A still further feature relates to the details of construction whereby acompact, efficient and economical television receiver can be produced.

Other features and advantages of the invention not specificallyenumerated will be apparent after a consideration of the followingdetailed descriptions in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a side view in elevation with part of the cabinet removedto show the interior arrangement and construction of the television set;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the television set with the front wall of thecabinet removed;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view showing the viewing opening and the lenssystem mounted within the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing the relation between the drum scannerand the disc shutter according to the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a cabinetof suitable material such as hard wood, or the like, having a baseportion 1, a rear wall 2, a front wall 3, and a top 4, the latter beingpreferably connected by hinges so as to provide ready access to theinterior of the cabinet. Secured rigidly to the rear wall 2 is a brackethaving the slanting side arms 6 and a table portion 7 formed integrallytherewith. The table portion 7 is provided witha central opening 8through which passes the shaft 9 of a motor 10. Motor 10 is rigidlysecured to the table 7 by suitable bolts 11, or in any other convenientmanner. Fastened to the upper end of the motor shaft 9 is a spider 12 towhich is rigidly attached in any suitable manner a hollow drum 13. Drum13 is provided with a series of perforations 14 and so arranged that theline joining the centers of the perforations traces a plural-turn helixaround the periphery of the drum. While in the drawing the drum is shownwith the perforations arranged in four complete turns it will beunderstood that any other number of turns may be employed depending uponthe size and detail required in the reproduced image. The upper end ofshaft 9 has secured thereto a worm gear 15 which drives a correspondinggear 16 attached to shaft 17. Shaft 17 is provided with suitablehearings in brackets 18, 19 which are rigidly attached to or formedintegrally with the table portion 7 Shaft 17 supports at its front end adisc or shutter 20. As shown more in detail in Figs. 2- and 4 member 20is provided with three curved slots 21, 22 and 23 respectively, thefunction of each slot being to expose, at any instant, only oneperforation in the drum 13. Inasmuch as the disc shaft 17 is eccentricwith respect to the axis of rotation of the drum 13 it is necessary thatthe slots in disc 20 be specially designed for this purpose so as togive, in effect, a substantially uniform rise at the point A (Fig. 4)for each equal angular displacement of the disc. Thus in one embodimentof the invention there were forty-eight perforations in drum 13 adaptedto cover a picture field approximately 1 square and using a three-slotshutter such as shown in Fig. 4. The slots were designed to give auniform rise of approximately 0.075 for each six degrees of the discthegears 15 and 16 being designed to rotate the drum 13 and the disc 20- inthe ratio of twelve to one. Thus in order to cover the complete picturefield the drum 13 is given four complete turns and during these fourturns the disc 20 turns through an angle of 120 degrees whereby the slot23, for example, successively exposes, one at a time, each of theopenings 14.

As shown more clearly in Figure 1 attached to the table't', preferableintegral therewith, is a U-shaped bracket 24 which carries an apertureplate 25 having a central cut-out portion, the width of which isdetermined by the spacing between successive perforations in drum 14.Attached to the top of bracket 24 is a screw threaded member 26 on whichis adjustably mounted by means of thumb nuts 27 a lamp holding bracket28. Bracket 23 is formed in two sections hinged together as indicated bynumeral 29 (Fig. 2). Pivotally attached to one part of memher 28 is ascrew threaded member 29 which is adapted to register with a pair ofribs 30, on the other half of the lamp support. An

" adjustable wing nut 31 is provided firmly to -ip the base 32 of thelamp 33. Lamp 33 is preferably of the so-called gaseous glow typeemploying, preferably, a flat plate electrode 34 and a co-operatingelectrode 35 mounted in very close relation thereto. Electrode 34 ispreferably of the same size, or sli htly larger in area than the picturefield that is scanned by drum 13.

Thus in the example above assumed electrode 34 will be of the order of 1square.

While any convenient gas filling may be employed for lamp 33 it ispreferred to employ a filling of neon, or other similar gas. Lamp 33 maybe provided with the usual prong terminals 36 adapted to receive acorrespond ing plug receptacle 3? which is connected by conductors 38 tosuitable binding posts 39 mounted on the wall of the cabinet. Asshownmore clearly in Figure 3 the front wall 3 of the cabinet isprovided with a square opening and attached to the edges of said openingby suitable screws 40 is a re-entrant housing having tapered walls 41.Mounted in any convenient manner within the small end of the housing isa large spherical lens 42 which is in optical alignment with theelectrode 34 of the lamp 33. Inasmuch as the lamp '33 is closelyadjacent to the wall of drum 13 no optical system is required betweenthe lamp and the drum, and the function of lens 42 is simply to magnifythe picture field. Furthermore, because of the re-entrant taperedhousing the picture field may be viewed simultaneously by a number ofobservers and the picture field is effectively screened from outsidedisturbing light sources.

It will be understood that suitable switches may be conveniently mountedon the front of the cabinet for controlling the motor 10 and the lamp33, as well as for controlling loud speaker, if such be desired.Inasmuch as any well known switching arrangements may be employed forthese purposes it is deemed not necessary to illustrate them in thedrawings.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the scanner provides a picturefield which is rectangular in shape because of the equal radialdistances of the perforations 14 and since the drum 13 is provided witha number of convolutions of perforations the picture field iscorrespondingly increased in size, and since each slot in the disc 20covers the complete picture field the disc may be made much smaller thanis practical. with prior art arrangements. Consequently there isprovided a very compact television device which has a large picturefield and wherein the light source may be placed in close proximity tothe wall of the scanning drum.

While the invention is particularly well suited to use as a televisionreproducer it will be understood that it can equally well be applied toa television transmitter or analyser in which case the lamp 33 may bereplaced bv well known form of pl'ioto-electric cell and the i mage orview to be transmitted would be projected by a suitabl optical systemrepresented by lens 42 upon the wall of the drum. Furthermore, whilespecific dimensions and arrangement of apparatus are disclosed it willbe understood that the invention is not limited thereto since the numberof perforations in the drum 13 and the number of slots in the disc 20may be determined in accordance with the relative speeds at which therespective elements are to be driven and in accordance with the requiredsize and detail of the reproduction. Similarly, while the drum 13 andthe disc 20 may be made out of any suitable material it is preferred toemploy for this purpose a light metal such as aluminum, or the like,which is capable of accurate inachining and provides the requiredrigidity during operation.

Claims:

1. Television apparatus comprising a hollow cylinder having a series ofminute scanning perforations in the wall thereof arranged in the path ofa multi-turn helix, a shutter disc having a plurality of separatearcuate slots converging toward the center of the disc for exposing saidperforations one at a time, each slot completely exposing all theperforations independently of the remaining slots, means for mountingthe disc so that it rotates tangentially to the wall of said drum, andmeans for rotating said disc and drum in unison.

2. In a television device the combination of an enclosing cabinet havinga tapered reentrant image opening, a lens mounted in the small end ofsaid opening, a motor supported on a wall of said cabinet, a scanningdrum attached to the motor shaft, a shutter disc for said drum, and alight translating device mounted within said drum, said lighttranslating device being in optical alignment with said lens.

3. In a television device the combination of a drum having xconvolutions in the peripheral wall thereof of perforations, a rotatabledisc having y arcuate slots each slot exposing all the perforationsindependently of the remaining slots, and means for rotating said drumangularly xy times the angular rotation of said disc. I

4. In combination an enclosing cabinet having a tapered reentrantobservation opening in the front thereof, a lens in the small end ofsaid opening, a scanning device mounted for rotation within said cabinetwith its scanning field in fixed alignment with said opening, saidscanning device having a plurality of convolutions of minute scanningelements, an image reproducing light beam, means for adjusting theposition of said beam with respect to the scanning field of said deviceand the opening in said cabinet, and a shutter disc having a series ofseparate arcuate slots each adapted independently to expose all thescanning elements in the scanning device.

5. A television scanning device comprising a drum having a plurality ofconvolutions of scanning elements in the peripheral wall thereof, ashutter disc for exposing one element at a time, said disc having aplurality of slots each in the form of an incomplete spiral each slotexposing all said elements during a partial revolution of said disc.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 1st day ofNovember, A. D. 1929.

SUMNER DUDLEY HABERLE.

